Ranked: World’s Best Countries For Its Citizens To Live, 2020

Beneath all the wealth and success a country amasses, is the actual driving force that makes it a numero uno leader across the globe. Yes, we are talking about none other than the citizenship of a nation.

The Netherlands has been recognized as the best country in the world for its citizens to live, according to the CEOWORLD magazine 2020 report, while Germany and New Zealand placed second and third, respectively. The 2020 rankings placed Canada in fourth ahead of Sweden into fifth; while Norway ranked sixth, and Denmark seventh.

Overall, among the top 10 best countries in the world, for its citizens to live, the eighth, ninth, and tenth positions are held by Finland, Israel, and Switzerland.

World's Best countries for its citizens to live, 2020

Rank

Country

Stability

Satisfaction

Balance

Overall

1

Netherlands

72.15

97.04

95.99

88.39

2

Germany

67.22

96.25

95.61

86.36

3

New Zealand

65.15

95.42

95.23

85.26

4

Canada

64.32

95.2

95.23

84.91

5

Sweden

60.53

95.01

93.67

83.07

6

Norway

59.76

94.95

93.67

82.79

7

Denmark

59.76

94.88

92.84

82.49

8

Finland

57.77

94.51

92.79

81.69

9

Israel

57.65

94.51

92.79

81.65

10

Switzerland

57.38

94.49

92.73

81.53

11

United Arab Emirates

56.31

94.25

92.54

81.03

12

Taiwan

56.29

93.56

92.33

80.72

13

Australia

56.2

93.22

91.85

80.42

14

United Kingdom

55.98

93.02

90.43

79.81

15

Belgium

55.89

92.44

90.4

79.57

16

Singapore

55.73

92.17

90.4

79.43

17

Luxembourg

55.46

91.98

90.06

79.16

18

Italy

55.37

91.84

90.02

79.07

19

Austria

55.31

91.71

90.02

79.01

20

Ireland

55.19

91.55

89.77

78.83

21

France

54.95

91.26

89.77

78.66

22

Latvia

54.92

91.25

89.77

78.64

23

United States

54.69

91.24

89.51

78.48

24

Liechtenstein

54.63

91.19

89.49

78.43

25

Spain

53.99

90.84

89.45

78.09

26

Monaco

53.74

90.59

89.45

77.92

27

Japan

53.59

90.55

89.45

77.86

28

Lithuania

53.55

90.5

89.34

77.79

29

Iceland

53.41

90.35

89.34

77.7

30

Estonia

53.28

89.93

89.34

77.51

31

Bhutan

53.25

89.76

89.26

77.42

32

Hungary

53.13

89.55

89.08

77.25

33

Portugal

53

89.05

89.08

77.04

34

Poland

52.83

88.97

88.97

76.92

35

Czech Republic (Czechia)

52.52

88.88

88.94

76.78

36

Andorra

52.5

88.75

88.94

76.73

37

Greece

52.4

88.54

88.83

76.59

38

South Korea

52.35

88.43

88.78

76.52

39

Mauritius

52.24

88.39

88.78

76.47

40

Croatia

51.85

88.33

88.74

76.3

41

Slovakia

51.8

88.11

88.71

76.2

42

India

51.7

88.08

88.71

76.16

43

Argentina

51.61

88

88.49

76.03

44

Moldova

51.41

87.99

88.49

75.96

45

Russia

51.34

87.76

88.49

75.86

46

Brazil

50.88

87.4

88.49

75.59

47

Slovenia

50.73

87.39

88.34

75.48

48

Cyprus

50.59

87.36

88.33

75.42

49

Chile

50.39

87.07

88.27

75.24

50

Belize

50.28

86.77

88.26

75.1

51

Bulgaria

50.13

86.7

88.25

75.02

52

South Africa

50.04

86.61

88.21

74.95

53

Romania

49.97

86.42

88.03

74.8

54

Mexico

49.9

86.38

87.97

74.75

55

Qatar

49.87

86.3

87.94

74.7

56

Costa Rica

49.64

86.21

87.9

74.58

57

Ukraine

49.6

86.18

87.78

74.52

58

China

49.25

85.92

87.78

74.31

59

Thailand

49.17

85.8

87.78

74.25

60

Indonesia

49.15

85.76

87.7

74.2

61

Panama

48.96

85.47

87.7

74.04

62

Bolivia

48.94

85.35

87.57

73.95

63

Philippines

48.93

85.18

87.56

73.89

64

Saudi Arabia

48.92

84.96

87.46

73.78

65

Malta

48.86

84.42

87.46

73.58

66

Oman

48.84

84.32

87.46

73.54

67

Turkey

48.71

84.05

87.46

73.4

68

Serbia

48.66

83.89

87.44

73.33

69

Albania

48.62

83.6

87.41

73.21

70

Belarus

48.58

83.53

87.28

73.13

71

Kyrgyzstan

48.54

83.4

87.22

73.05

72

Azerbaijan

48.15

83.16

87.19

72.83

73

Malaysia

48.14

83.14

87.14

72.8

74

Madagascar

48.1

82.77

87.05

72.64

75

Georgia

48.05

82.51

87.03

72.53

76

Antigua and Barbuda

47.27

82.36

87.02

72.21

77

Algeria

47.14

82.17

86.94

72.08

78

Mongolia

47.02

81.81

86.94

71.92

79

Bahamas

46.74

81.51

86.86

71.7

80

Egypt

46.67

81.4

86.86

71.64

81

Peru

46.57

81.23

86.86

71.55

82

Armenia

46.54

80.73

86.86

71.37

83

Sint Maarten

46.21

80.64

86.86

71.23

84

Bahrain

46.15

80.61

86.86

71.2

85

Sri Lanka

46.03

80.38

86.85

71.08

86

St. Vincent & Grenadines

45.96

80.3

86.82

71.02

87

Grenada

45.86

79.85

86.76

70.82

88

Montenegro

45.84

79.8

86.53

70.72

89

Morocco

45.42

79.78

86.53

70.57

90

Maldives

45.39

79.32

86.52

70.41

91

Saint Martin

45.29

79.01

86.28

70.19

92

Jordan

45.28

78.99

86.2

70.15

93

Guatemala

45.23

78.58

86.2

70.01

94

Saint Lucia

44.85

78.54

86.11

69.83

95

Barbados

44.75

77.19

86.03

69.32

96

Fiji

44.62

76.68

86.03

69.11

97

Kenya

44.25

76.27

86.03

68.85

98

Bangladesh

44.1

75.96

86.03

68.69

99

Saint Kitts & Nevis

44.06

75.87

85.95

68.62

100

Ecuador

44.03

75.63

85.95

68.53

101

Vietnam

43.93

75.6

85.95

68.49

102

Senegal

43.79

74.51

85.78

68.02

103

Brunei

43.62

74

85.77

67.79

104

Bosnia and Herzegovina

42.53

73.98

85.7

67.4

105

Myanmar

42.45

73.71

85.7

67.28

106

Angola

42.19

73.52

85.7

67.13

107

Seychelles

41.94

73.29

85.62

66.95

108

Malawi

41.77

72.54

85.62

66.64

109

Mozambique

41.7

72.03

85.62

66.45

110

Dominican Republic

41.52

71.59

85.53

66.21

111

Ghana

41.39

71.52

85.53

66.14

112

Sudan

41.39

71.14

85.53

66.02

113

Iran, the Islamic Republic of

41.17

71

85.53

65.9

114

Tunisia

41.1

70.99

85.53

65.87

115

Kazakhstan

40.84

70.97

85.53

65.78

116

Laos

40.81

70.69

85.53

65.67

117

Nepal

40.77

70.68

85.53

65.66

118

Lebanon

40.61

70.53

85.5

65.54

119

North Macedonia

40.19

70.29

85.37

65.28

120

Cambodia

40.06

70.16

85.35

65.19

121

Iraq

40.01

70.04

85.2

65.08

122

Trinidad and Tobago

39.98

68.51

85.2

64.56

123

Namibia

39.92

67.32

85.13

64.12

124

Cuba

39.91

67.29

85.12

64.1

125

Eritrea

38.93

65.47

84.69

63.03

126

Uruguay

38.79

65.21

84.29

62.76

127

Equatorial Guinea

38.56

65.19

84.2

62.65

128

Ethiopia

38.48

65

84.03

62.5

129

Botswana

38.28

64.96

83.62

62.28

130

Uzbekistan

38.23

64.65

83.56

62.14

131

Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of

38.22

63.51

83.51

61.74

132

Sierra Leone

38.21

62.57

83.29

61.35

133

Dominica

38.08

62.56

83

61.21

134

Cameroon

37.77

61.96

83

60.91

135

Turkmenistan

37.56

60.4

82.81

60.25

136

Paraguay

37.3

57.93

82.38

59.2

137

Central African Republic

36.65

57.21

81.3

58.38

138

Burkina Faso

36.55

51.69

80.5

56.24

139

Nicaragua

36

50.57

79.89

55.48

140

Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of

35.61

49.15

79.8

54.85

141

Niger

35.52

47.11

77.54

53.39

142

Congo

35.39

46.96

76.92

53.09

143

Nigeria

35.13

42.24

76.54

51.3

144

Libya

34.81

40.81

74.02

49.88

145

Gabon

34.78

37.64

74.02

48.81

146

Suriname

34.74

34.06

74.02

47.6

147

Tajikistan

34.74

24.68

71.65

43.69

148

Djibouti

34.35

23.76

69.28

42.46

149

Burundi

34.32

23.41

66.91

41.54

150

Chad

34.19

21.88

64.54

40.2

151

Tanzania

33.14

21.41

62.17

38.9

152

Comoros

32.41

20.47

59.8

37.56

153

El Salvador

32.06

19.04

57.43

36.17

154

Zimbabwe

31.67

18.47

55.06

35.06

155

Uganda

31.55

17.86

52.69

34.03

156

Lesotho

31.55

16.53

50.32

32.8

157

Papua New Guinea

31.33

15.2

47.95

31.49

158

North Korea

31.33

13.87

45.58

30.26

159

Colombia

30.18

12.54

43.21

28.64

160

Eswatini

30.06

11.21

40.84

27.37

161

Rwanda

29.46

11.17

38.47

26.36

162

Syria

29.23

11.13

36.1

25.48

163

Togo

28.43

11.09

33.73

24.41

164

DR Congo

28

11.05

31.36

23.47

165

Liberia

27.88

11.01

28.99

22.62

166

Zambia

27.62

10.97

26.62

21.73

167

Somalia

26.27

10.93

24.25

20.48

168

Timor-Leste

26.05

10.89

21.88

19.6

169

Mauritania

25.64

10.85

19.51

18.66

170

Yemen

25.33

10.81

17.14

17.76

171

South Sudan

25.25

10.77

14.77

16.93

Netherlands (No. 1): The Netherlands is a relatively small country that lies along the borders of Western Europe. Synonymous with tulips, windmills, and the European rivers, the nation is also helmed as one of the best for citizenship. With a total population of over 16 million people, the citizens here enjoy an array of social services like education and healthcare. Apart from the major attractions that let tourists pour in great numbers, it is the well-governed and corruption-free society that has people rooting for the citizenship of the country.

Germany (No. 2): Germany is also called the “Land der ideen” in other words the “Land of Ideas”. The nation has a long history of technology and research facilities that have helped it earn a top spot in the heart of every individual. Also, credited as the biggest economy in the European continent, the country’s steady growth has cut down the unemployment rates and contributed to its economic prowess. These above factors combining have made it a top nation that fits the bill of citizenship in all ways.

New Zealand (No. 3): This island country is located in the southern hemisphere and comprises two main divisions namely the North Island and South Island respectively. With over 4 million residents, the nation has been tagged as a favorite by many people across the globe. Be it the natural landscapes, high-quality education, health care, opportunities, or governance, New Zealand never ceases to amaze its citizens. While the country has seen massive growth over the years, it’s key takeaway lies in the peacemaking and global security areas, making it citizen-friendly.

Canada (No. 4): The only country in the North American continent to make it to the list is Canada. The nation is voted as one of the best country’s to settle due to the unlimited opportunity found here. As one of the richest countries in the world, Canada offers a high standard of living to all its citizens due to a decrease in taxes. The country also receives accolades for having a good government, a high degree of individual freedom along with a low unemployment rate, and high career growth options, making it one of the ideal countries to lead life.

Sweden (No. 5): Sweden is another country which is a common inclusion in the list of best countries for citizenship. The European country measures above the rest of the world in the Better Life Index thus making it a winner for the citizens. If you are living in Sweden you can have a better quality of life, strong infrastructure, gender equality, the best healthcare, education, and equal distribution of human rights. In general, a citizen of the nation has a higher living standard with absolutely no discrimination on color, race, and religion.

Detailed findings & methodology:

In order to determine the rankings, researchers at the CEOWORLD magazine analyzed and compared 171 countries across three key categories: 1) Stability, 2) Satisfaction, and 3) Balance. To evaluate those dimensions, researchers looked at 23 indicators that fell into one of the three categories. Each attribute was graded on a 100-point scale.

2) Satisfaction safety level of happiness quality of governance corruption perceptions child and maternal mortality infrastructure and transport efficacy of the public health system overall efficacy of education system

Raw data for countries were normalized on a 1-100 scale according to the following: Each individual indicator was given equal weighting within each of the three categories with some indicators being comprised of 2-3 sub-indicators that were also weighted equally. Each category was weighted equally to arrive at the overall index.

Sources: CEOWORLD magazine put together a panel of experts to go over data points culled from sources like the EIU Index, World Economic Forum, Global Insight, the Global Gender Gap Index, Gini, and Gender Gap index, The Legatum Prosperity Index, Transparency International, Environmental Performance Index, Better Life Index, CIA World Factbook, World Bank, UNDP Annual Report, as well as CEOWORLD magazine research. They then used that information to compare the world’s countries for its citizens and residents. Based on a consensus from these sources, the final choice of cities was judged editorially, as was their position on the list. All data is for the most recent period available.

So, these are some of the countries that have created a name for themselves in the citizenship arena. With the high-quality of life practiced there, it can be easily concluded that citizens can enjoy a gala time in these nations!

Respond

Sophie is the Research Editor at CEOWORLD magazine. She is based in the company’s New York office. Sophie has worked as a reputation advisor to nearly 250 global CEOs, 3,200 other C-Suite executives, and high net worth individuals for over 9 years. She joined CEOWORLD magazine as a Research Analyst, conducting comprehensive research using both open-source intelligence and premium resources, as well as enhanced due diligence, compliance, and risk assessment, and financial analysis and complex valuations. As a nonpartisan consultant to global business executives, business leaders, and think tanks, she focuses on economics and public policy issues. Her passion is explaining complex economic issues for the layman. She can be reached on email sophie@ceoworld.biz

FIND US ON SOCIALS

CEOWORLD magazine LTD

stay connected

With more than 12.4+ million page views, CEOWORLD magazine is the world's leading business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, senior management executives, business leaders, and high net worth individuals worldwide.